Smith's first start not beginning of something different

December 24, 2007|By DAVID STEELE

SEATTLE — SEATTLE-- --This might say it all about Troy Smith: After one NFL start, he has virtually the same quarterback rating this season as the two players who preceded him, Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. A mediocre rating, but still almost identical.

There are many ways to interpret that. Here are two: Smith got up to speed quickly to match the level of the average NFL starter. And: This is the fate of all Ravens quarterbacks because this is the offense they're dealt, and no one ever has done or ever will do much with it.